Butler Could Join Teammates in Cali

Caron Butler said today that he might join the Wizards for the final three games of their west coast trip, even if he serves only as a spectator. Butler said he will find out Thursday afternoon if he will get clearance to participate in full contact drills after spending the past week rehabilitating the contusion on his left knee. If he does, Butler said he'll catch a flight to join the team in Oakland, where the Wizards face the Golden State Warriors on Friday.

The Wizards said last week that Butler would miss 7-to-10 days after developing stiffness in his left knee, but ruled him out for any games during this trip. Butler said he is feeling better but couldn't speculate on a return until he gets clearance to practice again. He was optimistic that it wouldn't be long before he does. Butler originally stayed behind in Washington to work out with team trainers, but he said he hasn't developed any swelling. How his knee feels following Thursday's workout will determine his fate.

Butler injured himself in the closing seconds of a loss in Atlanta on March 7. Butler said he dunked over the Hawks' Josh Childress and Childress accidently kicked Butler in the leg while trying to defend the shot. The team is 1-4 without Butler this season and 1-9 without him the past two seasons.

This team is going to get bounced in the 1st round. This team only knows how to win one way. It needs all 3 of its Big 3 playing well and perfectly healthy. If they don't combine for 70-80 points and Butler isn't all out on the defensive end they can lose to anyone. To be a competitive team in the playoffs you've got to have the ability to win in more than one way (defensive slug-fest, half-court sets, shootouts, etc.) and your team has to be able to adapt to less than perfect circumstances...this team hasn't got a clue.

I agree with pfunk's point that this team needs all of the big 3 to be playing well and healthy to do any damage at all. With that said, and with zero chance of the Wizards falling any lower than 6th, Butler needs to chill on his sofa and get fully healed. After he gets back, Gilbert needs to take some time if he needs it to get that shoulder and any other aching body part fully healed. And give Jamison a day off here and there if it will help.

I honestly think the starters on this team should just stop playing, hope the reserves can win a few games and hold onto the last playoff spot, and then let the starters just come in and play street ball.

We've got a better chance of making it out of the first round that way, I think.

first round? The question to ask is how many games out of the next six or seven will the Wizards lose? these teams have beaten them at least once this season. And if the Wizards aren't having fun, sharing the ball, grabbing rebounds, and zooming down the court...If they're all intent, scowling and yelling at each other on the court... Knock on wood.

"....it has everything to do with the fact that Detroit, Cleveland, and particularly Miami have REALLY turned up the heat."

CJ that's kinda my point. The Wiz have ZERO sense of urgency and Jordan is trying to be thier "buddy" right now instead of thier coach. It's like what you said with Gil in regards to last night's final shot, it can't be both ways.

The Wiz need a killer instinct and they just don't have one. None.

"Your headline should read: "Butler may get pressed into action to try and salvage this team before Miami catches it"."

Agreed.

However "pressing" is bad. They should just let Caron sit like they did Jamison, even if he *thinks* he can play right now.